Image Comics 2017
Written & Illustrated by Steve Skroce
Coloured by Dave Stewart
Lettered & Designed by Fonografiks
The Maestro and his entire royal family have been murdered. Now, his banished son from Earth will inherit the Wizard King's throne along with a spell that turns its user into GOD. With enemies everywhere, will this Orlando-born millennial be able to keep his new magic kingdom?
This is another perfect example why coming into something blind is an amazing thing to experience. Yes I know the name Steve Skroce so I knew I was interested in reading this but I had no clue what it was going to be about. We live in an age where people love to know what’s happening before it does, instant gratification and the information age overload. Folks can’t wait to be the first one to tell you about something months before it’s due to be in the public’s hands. I don’t do that, I don’t subscribe to it and as much as I don’t like seeing in Previews that is great for finding those independent books that are coming out.
Back to the matter at hand though. Immediately we are hit with a WOW moment and it’s one heck a thing to see. Alright attention captured now I need to know what’s going on here. I will wholeheartedly tell you that the imagination and creativity on display with this opening is both incredibly fun and insanely violent. So if you are squeamish be forewarned. Still I adore the beings and creatures that we see here and it does kind of make you think of Dungeons & Dragons in space. Personally I’m more than down for that idea too.
So as things progress The Maestro’s former wife Margaret and her son William, Willy, are the only survivors of the massacre of the Royal Family. So what does that mean, it means mother has to find her son and bring him back to claim the throne place a new Maestros in place and keep the peace while also finding a way to stop the rampaging killer. There you have it in a nutshell and that’s as much as I’m willing to reveal at this time. Other than the fact that we get to meet Gah’Ree who is a Sunflower plant man I'll give you that too because hot diggity damn that came out to look freaking awesome.
I have a lot respect and admiration for someone who is able to write and illustrate their own story. To have that kind of talent we are seeing here is amazing. The attention to detail here is superb and the linework is clean and tight. The imagination and creativity in bringing the characters to life in the way he does and as foreign and alien and yet both likeable and interesting is spectacular. The use of page layouts through their angles and perspective are fantastically done and the fact that he is able to use backgrounds as he does really enhances the story. Oh and thank you for showing those extra inches in action Micro to Maxi well that was fun.
How we meet Willy was tons of fun and shows that this mad mage that killed dear old dad took precautions cause they might have taken out the Royal Family in one spot they’ve arrived where Willy is and ironically where he’s working. I am impressed with the characterisation here I love how we get to see Willy and how we think of him because he’s not a spoiled brat per se but he is more con artist or an opportunist who doesn’t mind using magic for profit. The wrong kind of opportunity too but that’s all changing now.
The structure of the story here is strong, well done and has a great flow to it. The way the story unfolds and the information distributed has a great quality to it. That there’s obviously the time and effort put into this to make it as complete as possible shows a level of commitment that is greatly appreciated by it’s readers.
Fun, interesting and full of imagination and creativity this the kind of world you want as yours!